As I typed back my response, now grinning, I only then realized just how much I’d missed her. I loved Crew, of course, and my parents. But Daisy was the sunshine in my life I really needed right now and the prospect of seeing her again had my heart singing.
How long are you home for? Petunia followed me as I headed for the front door, donning my coat while I shuffled her leash, my bag and my phone, awaiting Daisy’s reply. It came quickly and I could see her in my mind’s eye, blonde curls bouncing, gray eyes alight, giant smile on her face as she hit send.
Not sure, she sent. Nelson didn’t say, but it’s going to be a few days, for sure.
Nelson? I hesitated, keys in my hand, reaching for the light switch. He’s coming here? I had, as yet, to meet the mysterious powerhouse that was Nelson Delamonte. Not for lack of asking. Crew’s reluctance reminded me he still liked to keep things from me.
Way to ruin the mood, Fee.
Surprised me, too, Daisy sent. He loves football! I guess he’s super excited about the two players doing so well this year. He even said he might sponsor them at his old school. How cool is that?
I’d done enough discreet digging to know not only was Nelson Delamonte a big man in business, he was a big man period, a towering former linebacker himself, retired from the NFL, talented enough to have scored millions in endorsements and contracts in his playing days and brilliant enough to have put his earnings to good use in the business world. But our tiny little town’s football prospects catching his attention felt more like he had an agenda in mind, rather than honest interest in the players.
Maybe I wasn’t in the best of moods to be judging, however. After all, what did I know? Not enough to draw any conclusions.
I looked up as the door opened before I could exit, catching my husband’s eyes and noting the wariness there. I turned my phone toward him, arching eyebrows in his direction. “Look who’s coming to visit,” I said.
His immediate discomfort had me frowning a little, though Crew covered his reaction with a smile. “I just heard,” he said.
I fired off a quick, see you tomorrow, can’t wait, to Daisy before dropping my phone in my coat pocket. Crew guided me out to the sidewalk and took care of locking the door, Petunia bouncing up and down in eager need for attention which he gave her as soon as he was done. When he finally met my eyes again, my husband’s wariness had returned.
“Okay,” I said, a bit more curtly than perhaps was warranted, but I’d had a day and he’d been playing this game with me over Nelson for almost two years now. “I’ve had it. Tell me what’s wrong with him.”
Crew shook his head, handing over the puppy and taking my bag from me, linking arms as he turned me and headed up the street for home. The cool October early evening wasn’t exactly winter weather yet, but the sheltering mountains had cut off the sun’s warmth hours ago, full sunset still a half-hour away. I shivered inside my wool coat despite myself, Petunia snuggling up under my chin with her round butt balanced on the crook of my elbow. She’d be too big for carrying soon enough and I found I treasured the time I still could.
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” my husband reassured me before sighing. “Listen, Nelson is… I’m not sure you two are going to hit it off, that’s all.”
Why didn’t I believe him? “You do recall I worked a job for him already, without your help.” Sure, we’d done it over the phone and had never actually met, but I felt like I was confident enough in my person not to embarrass my husband or alienate our best client, thanks.
“I know,” Crew said. “He already adores you. Nelson just has this way of getting what he wants, Fee.” My husband hesitated before going on. “He’s very persuasive and not used to hearing no.”
“You’ve promised me all along he’s not into anything illegal.” That was one assertion I’d insisted on and Crew had agreed completely.
“He’s not.” My husband stopped on the corner, turning me to face him, blue eyes earnest in the falling light. “When you meet him, just…”
“Don’t embarrass you?” I felt my lips narrow into a line.
Crew’s surprise had me rethinking everything. “Embarrass me?” He laughed, hugging me before kissing my cheek. “Fee, my love.” He let out a long, happy sigh. “You are amazing and beautiful and he’s going to want to steal you from me.”
He…
Oh, Crew.
I hugged him back, Petunia between us, the puppy taking turns licking his cheek and then mine like this was some amazing bounty she couldn’t get enough of. “You’re ridiculous,” I said.
“I’m a realist.” My husband started walking again, arm relinked in mine. “No, I’m not worried about our marriage. It’s your mind he’s going to want, Fee. He knows talent and he’s already asked me a million times if we’d be willing to relocate to Miami. He wants both of us. Why do you think he’s poached Daisy?”
“Because she’s awesome,” I said, a bit stilted.
“She is,” he agreed. “And he’s using her to lure us to Florida.” Crew waited for an oncoming car to pass before tugging gently on me, like a well-trained guide dog himself looking both ways before letting his charge cross the street. Either he’d been home already, or I’d left the porch light on, because the warm glow beckoned us both up the steps to our front door. Crew already had his keys in his hand and was unlocking it when he finished. “He’s going to try to convince you.”
After everything I’d been through here in Reading? “I wish him luck,” I said.
Crew laughed, taking my coat, hanging it up for me, the warmth of the foyer banishing the chill I’d carried with me from the street. He unclipped Petunia’s harness, the puppy running free and racing for the kitchen, now unfettered, her claws clattering on the wood floor as we followed. “Like I said,” my husband told me, “I’m not sure how this is going to go.”
Okay, so I guess I understood a bit better finally. “I won’t antagonize him,” I said, “but regardless, Crew, this is our home. And I’m not leaving it, no matter how convincing Nelson Delamonte thinks he can be.”
Crew didn’t reply, the rest of our evening spent in happy domesticity, though I admit as I curled up on my side to try to sleep, back aching again, I found my curiosity about our mysterious client kept me awake far more than the pain did.
***